DigitalBridge Communications Wins $4.3 Million Round One Broadband Stimulus Award;

ASHBURN, Va., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- DigitalBridge Communications Corp. (DBC), the leading private operator of WiMAX 4G broadband networks in underserved and mid-sized communities in the U.S., won a $4.3 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to deploy fourth-generation wireless services to three Idaho counties, the company announced today. Made under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the broadband stimulus award will provide affordable broadband services to those living in underserved portions of Cassia, Jerome, and Twin Falls counties—all contiguous to DBC's existing network in Twin Falls. In winning the grant, DBC joins a select group of just 6% of last-mile applications (i.e., 70 out of 1,164) to be awarded funds by NTIA or RUS during round one.

"This is a vote of confidence in the services provided by DigitalBridge Communications from the NTIA. We look forward to bringing advanced, fourth-generation broadband services to those living in underserved areas," said William Wallace, executive vice president of DigitalBridge. "We also look forward to helping to build mobile broadband Internet into an engine for job and business creation."

DBC has also submitted 31 round two applications across five states--Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Indiana--totaling $150 million in stimulus investments. Funding these applications would enable DBC to bring affordable, fixed and mobile broadband services to more than 1.5 million consumers, 80,000 businesses, and 2,100 community institutions. DBC's commitment to deploy broadband services in all communities within nine months of the award at a network capital cost of under $300 per covered household would help federal agencies meet their broadband objectives at a fraction of the cost of wired alternatives. Moreover, in addition to sales force and field-technician jobs, DBC will generate construction jobs in its local markets.

Over the past three years, DBC has brought service to 15 communities nationwide, leveraging strong deployment capabilities, a state-of-the-art Network Operations Center, and scalable billing and customer care systems. DBC delivers fixed broadband wireless services to a variety of customers--consumers, businesses, educational, healthcare, and public safety institutions--while providing mobile broadband services though WiMAX-enabled laptops, netbooks, USB adapters and other portable devices. DBC is also uniquely positioned to help the country meet one of its top goals as spelled out in the National Broadband Plan: "The United States should lead the world in mobile innovation, with the fastest and most extensive wireless networks of any nation."

SOURCE DigitalBridge Communications Corp.